Self-adjusting chair



April 19, 1951 A. RIVERA SELF-ADJUSTING CHAIR Fi led Feb. 12, 1946 Iii/ways Patented Apr. 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELF-ADJUSTING CHAIR Aureo Rivera, New York, N. Y.

Application February 12, 1946, Serial No. 647,022

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to chairs and is more particularly concerned with office chairs of the swivel type.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a chair of the character referred to which will be self-adjusting in relation to a desk or table when occupied.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chair which is self-adjusting in relation to another object, such as a desk or table, but will move away from the object when vacated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a self-adjusting swivel chair with means for adjusting the plane of the seat to afford a comfortable pitch or slant thereof for the occupant.

With the'foregoing and other objects and advantages in view, thev invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention showing in dotted lines, its advanced adjusted position.

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is an horizontal section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the invention.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view on line 55 of Figure 4.

tally disposed arm 9 formed integrally with a threaded spindle l0 positioned coaxially with-the standard 2. The threaded part of the spindle engages a tubular extension ll depending from a flanged metal plate l2 which is secured by screws to the under side of seat I, at its approximate center, thus permitting swivel movement of the same.

An elevating spindle I3 is threaded into the bottom of swivel spindle l0 and turned by means of hand-wheel [4. A helical spring i5 is contained in a socket in the upper end of standard 2 and impinges said hand-wheel, thus serving as a cushion or shock absorber. The function of the, spindle I3 is toregulate the pitch of arm 9 and inclination of seat I.

The foot of standard 2 is fashioned with parallelintegral flanges l6 which depend therefrom Like numerals in the description and drawing designate the same partsof construction.

The seat I of the chair is supported by standard 2, which projects from a pedestal 3, preferably of metal and having suitable weight to provide a stable base for the chair. The pedestal is in the form of a truncated pyramid, having elongated sides 4 which are slanted towards the front. Interiorly, the pedestal is provided with an elongated, rectangular recess 5, which is disposed longitudinally thereof. The bottom of the recess is on an incline extending downwardly from the rear of the pedestal to the proximity of the front, thus forming an inclined track or runway 5--a for the purpose hereinafter disclosed.

The standard 2 is provided with forwardly and downwardly extending legs 6, constructed integral therewith and formed to straddle the sides 4 of the pedestal. Normally the feet of the legs rest against said sides and serve as lateral braces for the standard. Projecting frontally and upwardly from the standard adjacent its top is an integral arm 1 which is bifurcated at the upper end and pivotally joined, as at 8, to a horizonand serve as bearings for two transversely disposed axles I 1 carrying dual rollers i8. These rollers rest on the inclined track or runway 5a and are designed to traverse same under impetus of the weight of one seating himself in the chair.

Attached to the rear roller axle is one end of a metal band or ribbon I9 which is coiled on a spool 20 having integral studs mounted in a recess 2| located in the rear end of pedestal 3. To one stud of the spool is fastened the inner extremity of a coil spring 22 and the other extremity is fastened to the wall of the recess by a pin or other suitable means. Thefunction of coil spring 22 is to exert tension on the metal ribbon I9 when the chair is occupied and thus'draw the foot of standard 2 back to normal position 'at the top of the slideor runway when'the chair is relieved of the weight of the occupant. The band or ribbon passes from the spool 26 to the roller axle over an idler 23.

A closure plate 24 is provided for the recess 2| and another one 25, with an elongated slot 26,

for the recess 5 in'the top of thep'edest'al. The latter slot permits full freedom of movement for the standard of the chair.

In operation, the pedestal 3 would be placed at an appropriate distance from a desk, table or the like, so that a person desirous of sitting down could do so without first moving the chair either backward or forward. The advantage of thi to one with books or papers in his hands will be obvious. After sitting down, the mere weight of the occupant will cause the roller coaster foot of the chair standard to gravitate towards the front of the pedestal, thus bringing the seat nearer the desk or table. The distance which the roller foot will move will depend largely on the wish of the occupant. When the occupant vacates, the action of the metal band, under tension, will return the foot of the standard to normal position without pushing the chair back from the desk. If the standard is moved all the way down the incline, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1, the legs 6 will rest on the floor, thus serving to brace the standard, as they do when resting on the sides of the pedestal.

Having .thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A chair adapted to be supported on a floor and comprising a seat, a base resting onthe floor and provided with an inclined track, asstandard connected at its upper end to the seat, means for slidably mounting the lower end "of the standard in the track, and yieldable means embodying a coiled metal band rotatably supported in said base ,and connected to.said.slidabl;e mounting means, .and .spring means eonnected ;to said band operating to exert tension .on said band 'for normally -retaining'the :standar'dat .the upperlimit of said trackand providing for downward movement of ithestandard relative to the track upon the im- .-pos'ition.of weight on theseatand for return upward movement of the standard upon removal of .such weight.

.2. -A ,chair adapted to be supported on a jfioor .and vcon'iprisinga seat, a base resting on the;floor and-provided with .an inclined .track, astandard connected -at.its upperendto the .seat, a roller mounting on thelowere-end \ofthe standard and .reciprocable in the track, and ;yieldable .means embodying a coiled metal .bandrotatably. support- .ed .in said .base .and connected to ,said .roller mounting, and spring .means .connected .to said ,bandoperating to exert tensiononsaid handicr- ;normally retaining ,the standard at the vupper limit .of said track and providing ,foridownward imovement of .thestandard relative to the track upon .the imposition .of weight I on .the seat .and ifor ,return :upward movement of the standard .uponremoval of such weight.

v3. A chair adapted .tobesupportedon a .floor and comprising aseat, a base of .generallyrec- .tangular outline and 'formed (with upwardly .con- .verging sides and 'a track extending longitudinally of the top of the base a standard connected at its upper end to the seat, means dorslidably :mounting thelower end of the standard in the track, and .latei'allyextendinglegs on thestand- .ard .and having their lower ends in .slidable 1,0011- ttact against the sides of the .basei'for bracing the standard.

-,4. .A chair adapted to be supported on a floor and comprising a seat, ;a :base of genera lyzrectangular butline formed with a track extending :longitudinally of the top-.ofzime basepalstandard econnectedlatits upneraend :tothe seat,-means-for aslidably mounting .the lower end of the standard in the track, and laterally rextending legs .on the standard and having their-lower ends in-slidable contact against thersides of .the base for bracing .theistandard.

lit

5. A chair adapted to' be supported on a floor and comprising a seat, a base of generally rectangular outline and formed with upwardly converging sides and an inclined track extending longitudinally of the top of the base, a standard connected at its upper end to the seat, means for slidably mounting the lower end of the standard in the track, yieldable means on the base and i associated with the lower end of the standard,

.said yieldable ,means :normally retaining the standard at the upper limit of said track and pro- -Viding for downward movement of the standard relative to the track upon the imposition of weight on the seat and for return upward move- ,ment .of the standard upon removal of such weight, and laterally-projecting legs on the Standard'and having their lower ends in slidable ,Qontactiagainst the sides of the base for bracing the standard.

.6. A chair adapted to be supported on a floor and comprising a "seat, a base ;of generally rectangular outline'and 'formedwith upwardly converging sides and an inclined track extending longitudinally of the top of the base, a standard connected at its upper end to the seat, means for slidably mounting the lower end of the standard in the track, yieldable.means on the base and associated with the .lower end 'of the standard, .tsaid yieldable means normally retaining the standard at the upper limit of said track and providing for downwardmovement of the stand ard relative to the track .upon the imposition of weight of the seatand 'forreturn upward move- .ment of the standard upon removal of such weight, andilegs on the standard projeoting laterally :andiforwardly thereof and having their lower .ends in sli'dable contact against the sides of the "base, said' legs, upon movementojf the standard to the .lower limits of the track being adapted to extend forwardly of the base into contact with the floor.

7,. A chair comprisinga seat, a base, a standard connected with the base at its lower end, an arm projecting ,at an upward angle from the upper end of the standard, .a threaded extension on'the under side of the seat and comprising a laterallyextendingmember pivotally connected with said arm, aspindle mounted on .and projecting upwardly from .said upper end .of the standard and threadedly connected with said threaded extension, .andmeans ,-for rotating the spindle to tilt .theseatat a desiredangle.

.AUREO, RIVERA.

'REEERENCES CITED ;.'I"he I-o1lowing references are .of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Number ..Name Date "235,293 ,Rieckert .Dec. .'7., l880 1,108,030 Turner Aug. 18,1914 1,735,304 Travis Nov. 12, 1929 2,357,046 Hewitt Aug. ,29, 1944 

